Health promotion policies in Singapore: Meeting the challenges of the 1990s

Abstract

Health promotion has been proposed as one of the major elements in national health policies in Singapore by the Review Committee appointed by the Minister for Health in April 1991. This article looks at health promotion policies in Singapore, including the concept, approach, targets, outreach programmes, and framework for actions, with particular reference to the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and Adelaide Recommendations. The Singapore strategies focus mainly on healthy lifestyle promotion, which has taken the form of a nationwide campaign, in the hope to 'add years to life' as well as 'life to years' among Singaporeans.